Overview & Reviews

Swedish-born Volvo has long been a forerunner in safety research, and its vehicles have the crash test scores to prove it. These days, the brand has improved its offerings by crafting vehicles that also offer generous amounts of style and performance.

In Latin, the word "Volvo" means "I roll." Volvo cars have been rolling ever since 1927, when the first vehicle (nicknamed "Jakob") was produced in the city of Gothenburg. The company's founders, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larsson, put an emphasis on safety, and that dictum still holds true today. The Jakob was joined by the six-cylinder PV651 in 1929, and by 1931, more than 10,000 Volvos had been produced.

Postwar, Volvo unveiled one of its biggest successes, the PV444. By the 1950s, Volvo had begun exporting cars to the U.S., and the PV444 — with its compact size and stylish looks — helped the manufacturer quickly make a name for itself in its new territory. The decade also saw Volvo building on its reputation for being a vanguard in the area of safety; it was the first manufacturer to make vehicles with a three-point safety belt.

The 1960s saw the launch of a new Volvo sports car, the P1800. The car's sculpted good looks helped earn it celebrity status when it was featured on the long-running TV series The Saint, with Roger Moore behind the wheel. Safety features grew more advanced during this decade and Volvo was again at the forefront of the action, offering features such as padded dashboards and energy-resistant crumple zones in front and rear.

Volvo distinguished itself as the exclusive home to a number of valuable new technologies during the 1970s. If you were looking for safety features such as childproof locks, collapsible steering columns and rear-facing child seats during this decade, you'd only find them in a Volvo.

Like BMWs and Saabs, Volvos became an American "yuppie" favorite during the 1980s. The company proved its technological know-how wasn't just limited to safety when it rolled out its first turbocharged car. By the end of the decade, Volvo had unveiled new models like the front-wheel-drive 480 hatchback (for Europe) and the Italian-designed 780 coupe.

In the early '90s, Volvo launched the 850. The car was Volvo's first front-wheel-drive executive car, and teamed performance with the company's trademark attention to safety. The decade also saw Volvo rolling out new models like the S40 and C70 — cars that updated the automaker's boxy image with a more rounded, sculpted aesthetic. The company became part of the Ford family when it was acquired by the automaker in 1998. Ford helped Volvo financially, while Volvo provided Ford with new safety technologies and car platforms. Due to Ford's financial troubles during the American recession, however, Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese automaker Geely in 2010.

It's unknown how Volvo's new owner will guide the brand long term, but chances are Volvo will continue to offer sedans, coupes and SUVs known for their combination of safety and driving excitement.

User Reviews:

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  Disappointed - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Disappointed in MI - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Purchased car because of Volvos reputation and great price for the options. I had to change brakes after 1st year, and Im looking at another replacement on this second year. Dealer confessed that Volvo had a poor braking design warranteed the first set of brakes. Cup hold is in the way of the radio.

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  Fun and Relatively Economical Sleeper - 2005 Volvo S60
  By DNeuwir - June 2 - 2:56 am

  Owned for about 3 months now. With 5000 miles on the odometer, I can say this is definitely one of the "funnest" cars Ive owned. With 300hp, its exhilarating driving up freeway onramps. Though a little sluggish off the line (0-10mph, mostly due to being a low- displacement 5-cyl) once above 2500RPM the sky is the limit. The full-time AWD keeps all rubber on the road, even on wet pavement, though the P-Zero tires are NOT suited for icy or snow driving. Fuel efficiency is better than expected: 25mpg average combined (window sticker claimed 24 highway--I regularly see 30-32mpg on long straight stretches at 55-65mph). Build quality is not flawless, but is very good given the $40K price.

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  a/c noise - 2004 Volvo S60
  By lynvale - June 2 - 2:00 am

  car seems to put a strain on the a/c.when ideling a/c tends to be very loud and seems to hesitate.

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  think twice - 2001 Volvo V70
  By MARIE - June 1 - 10:00 am

  IN THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED MY CAR IT FELL APART THE ELECTRICAL CRASHED THE BATTERY REPLACED AND GAS EJECTED BACK AT YOU!(SO MUCH FOR SAFETY) I NOW HAVE HAD MY LEMON FOR A YEAR WE WENT FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL I ONCE AGAIN TRIED PUTTING GAS INTO IT AND WAS COVERED WITH IT DOWN MY LEG WHEN IT WAS BEING REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO COBWEBS!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THIS HAS OCCURED IN MORE THEN ONE OF THE VOLVO MAKES!!!! YES THE VOLVO IS SAFE IN A CAR ACCIDENT BUT THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE NOT WORTH IT

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  I love it! - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By Jon - May 25 - 5:50 am

  I own an Infiniti FX35 which I really enjoy driving (280 HP). I bought my wife the Volvo XC70 so she would stop driving my FX. Guess what? She can have the FX, I love the XC70! The XC70 rides very smoothly, has plenty of power, especially at high speeds, has incredible grip especially in snow, and has a huge trunk. I like the look as well. I bought the premium package and the interior materials are very nice, the stereo is great too. The gas mileage is average, however. We dont have kids but Ii have no problem driving a station wagon. I grew up in Europe and station wagons are in there. Here, there is a stigma about driving a station wagon. Great ride.

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  V40_summary2004 - 2001 Volvo V40
  By tsana - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Responsive and full of power (AC reduces this substantially though). Comfortable bucket seats, great sounding manufacturers audio/CD. Truly have enjoyed this car. Faults: environmentally friendly brake pads need replacing annually!! Also had chronic defects in electronic driver seat adjuster. No problems with engine in 4 years. I highly recommend it. New V50 replaces it in 2004.

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  Fun Pleasureable and reliable - 2008 Volvo C70
  By fordmustang_27 - May 22 - 12:35 pm

  I bought this car used in march 2011. It came with 19,000 miles that woman put on before me. She traded it in and bought a new one. I compared this to the camaro, bmw and infiniti convertibles. These cars could not compete with the value and the feel of this car. The hard top convertible is amazing to watch go up and down. It has surprisingly good power with its 230 hp with its 2.5 liter turbo 5 cylinder. Still gets good gas mileage. I average 22 city and 28 highway driving slow like i normaly do. But I want to pass someone its very easy. Im at 30k miles and had no problems. Very reliable. Only thing its expensive to maintain. Around 200-600 dollars every time i bring it in.

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  Great so far - 2008 Volvo V70
  By TrackAHolic - May 20 - 6:50 am

  Bought to replace Dodge Dakota Quad Cab after having baby. Compared mostly against Dodge Magnum and BMW Sportswagon. Volvo had nicest interior and was reasonably roomy. Dodge had most room and great performance, but wife didnt like the styling. BMW had best cornering and steering feel, but was a little small. Car will be used for long cruises and day-to-day driving, so it was a perfect fit. Driving dynamics are sloppy, but it still has good overall grip and acceleration. The interior is beautiful, and really helped sell us on the car. It is a pleasure on any kind of drive, has a great stereo, is quiet, and roomy. I really like to drive it, and I typically drive a 350Z.

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  V70 - VERY VERSATILE - 2002 Volvo V70
  By mansel - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for 13 months and had put 15500 miles on it thus far. It is by far the most comfortable car Ive owned. Ive driven it on several 11 hour trips without incurring my usual backache. (which is what I would of had with all the other cars Ive owned.) overall I love this car but it hasnt been without its problems. nothing serious mind you but Ive been to the dealer for repairs 3 times in 12 months.

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  Finaly a cool Volvo! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Sickpuppy - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I think this is a fine automobile, By far the best SUV I have ever driven. Its slightly under powered but handles beautifully. Interior design is really good and ergonomic.